The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1887-12-08
Higher Prices for Beef.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL: Beef is
the foundation of all cattle industries and its
production and future prospects are matters
Of great interest to The farming communities
OF this country. In recent years the business
of cattic-growing and bccf-tlistrbuting has as
Suined new phases and taken new channels.
The West offered such facilities for the profit
able production of all classes Of cattle that
capitalists and cattlemen instigated immense
enterprises and invested large sums of money.
A few sharp men then saw a chance to cheap
Ell and facilitate the distribution of this west
ern beef in the eastern markets. They took
into consideration the fact that forty steers
when slaughtered and dressed could be slowed
in one car cheaply as fifteen live bulocks.
The dressed meat would also be ripening for
use while the live cattle would he an expense,
as it would be necessary to unload and feed
several times on the eastern trip and the
shrinkagc would be considerable. Those who
caught ON to these ideas and acted upon them
have made fortunes. although less than twenty
years have elapsed since the first Chicago dress
ed beef was forwarded to our markets. The
three principal mel now engaged in this busi-
ness->wift. Armc ur and Hammond-are mo-
Mopoli>tS. They count their money by mil
lions and their ref iycrator cars by thousands.
One OF ihcHi told me that he checked out of his
bank in his legitimate bus mess last year thirty
millions uf dollars.
The cheaper production of cattle Oh he rich
western plains and tie cheaper distribution. a.
described, of this ihlmen>e production. have
rcVo'utionizcd the whole cattle interests of
New England. Our farmers have become dis
couragrd and gone entirely out OF the produc-
ton Of beef. in which money has been lost.
Those who notice carefully the natural rise and
fail of the markets now predict higher prices
for meats. Several things combine to make
this prophecy Il true one. 1t must be admitted
by those Who study the statistics that the in
tHX of population is much more rapid than
the growth of cattle. while this immigration in
terfcrcs with the production, as the fertile
ranges are being cut up into farms, while the
cities which are Springing up almost instan-
taneou>|y all over the West become consumers.
The Pacific coast now comes into the western
markets and claims its share of live stock. The
question Of allowing animals to be 50 exposed
i'll Northern sections of the United States as to
endanger their lives is now being agitated
The sceicteS for the prevention of cruelty to
animal. .,i'e becoming popular and financially
strong. and should be encouraged by all who
have 10 heart to see our dumb animals abused
These organizations will soon interfere with
this relic of bariarity in the Northwest where
t!.cre are from twenty-five to fifty per cent. OF
deaths from exposure.
Nearly all Of New England has gone out OF
hcci-ra>!nY. The distribution of western cat.
tie is now mainly controlled by three men, who
are undoubtedly upright, fair-minded indiyid-
ual>. yet who may conclude to charge an eX.
horbitant price fer their goods when the time
comes that they control the whole supply. II
would be well for the farmers and cattle mer
of Maine TO study this question and not he
caught mapping, iS in the opinion of we'll
po>tc dealers prices have touelcd the very
lowest point and soon will rally. W hile extreme
prices AZ, looked for within the next twenty
four months. [: {. LIBBY.